Japan has two listed mobile gaming companies with a multi-billion US-dollar market capitalization, GREE ($2.7 billion) and DeNA ($4.2 billion), with both companies offering services in Japan only. But DeNA just yesterday rolled out MiniNation on the App Store, a social network for the iPhone based around games and avatars that targets a global audience.
MiniNation started out with a total of four (free) games in English [iTunes link], all of which are based on popular titles found on DeNA’s Japanese social gaming portal, Mobage-town (which boasts 18 million members). The avatar system is already in place, and according to DeNA, the first four games (Bandit Nation, Mini Solitaire, Mini BalloonHunt and Mini NumberPlace) are just the beginning.
Related News
Playmesh Tops the Charts with #1 Game on the iPhone: iFarm downloaded 1 million times in 10 days
Cellufun takes on Zynga and Playdom by providing social games on “non-smart” mobile devices
A guide to Japan’s 32 best iPhone apps (all available in English)- Yazino updates Wheel Deal iOS – and instantly hits the top of the charts
- Squigs survey: Mobile gaming popular while commuting; Angry Birds popular on desert islands
